Knowledge - attitude - practice of students of the Faculty of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City on the risk of zoonosis

The zoonosis is a significant health issue for both the medical and veterinary fields. Students in these disciplines play crucial roles in preventing and controlling such diseases. This study aimed to understand the knowledge (K), attitudes (A), and practices (P) regarding the prevention and control of zoonotic diseases among students majoring in animal science and veterinary medicine at the Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City. Two methods used in this cross-sectional study were KAP and Q surveys, conducted on 329 and 46 subjects, respectively. The results indicated that students exhibited good K, A, and P levels at 66%, 48%, and 60%, respectively. The academic year influenced the formation of knowledge and attitudes. Raising two different kinds of animals at home was a factor that influenced the attitudes. The number of information sources affected differences in attitudes and behaviors. Three distinct student clusters were formed based on KAP scores. Cluster 1 had lower scores in all three aspects than the population average, cluster 3 had higher KAP scores than the population average, and cluster 2 had higher KP but lower A than the population average. Two student opinion groups (SOGs) were formed through the Q methodology, where SOG 1 was more concerned about personal health, and SOG 2 was more concerned about animal health. Both groups mentioned interdisciplinary collaboration to address the issue of zoonotic diseases. The proportion of students with good KAP was relatively low, and factors influencing this proportion were identified in the study. Thus, this highlighted the need for additional solutions and enhancements from teachers and researchers with the One Health approach playing a crucial role.